Sumner gets bid for firetruck

He said if the town takes more than 30 days to decide on the offer from the Maine company, the price will go up 4 percent.

Town Clerk Susan Runes said the town could finance the purchase by using $97,000 in the firetruck fund and raising money for two years that usually goes into that fund.

She also said that in three years the town is expected to be hit hard with school costs so “I would like to get the truck paid for in full by then.”

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She asked Stewart to get all the information on the pumper in writing from the bidder so she could give it to the Budget Committee.

Selectmen’s assistant Cyndy Norton said there have been complaints to the town office by people unable to get a fire permit.

Firefighter Wally Litchfield, who issues permits, said he is always home after 9 a.m. when he gets the weather report to judge whether permits can be issued.

Darlene Waterman and contractor Jack Harlow were at the meeting to discuss the order from the Department of Environmental Protection to clean up property on Front Street. The property belongs to Waterman’s son, Duane, who is serving two life sentences in prison for murdering two men in West Paris in 2008.

Harlow has been hired to clean up the property and said he is unsure what is buried in the back of it. He said it apparently was used for a family dump over the years. He said he is willing to clean up the place and possibly purchase it for an investment.

Waterman said her lawyer had advised her to get rid of the property because any profit she made might open her to being sued by the families of the murdered men.

“I just want to get rid of it. Cleaning it up completely is just too costly,” she said, adding she’s already invested several thousand dollars.

Selectman Mark Silber asked Harlow to get in touch with the DEP and report back to the board.

In other business, the board was invited to a dedication of the medical helicopter pad from 1 to 3 p.m. on May 23 at the town office.

On May 25, the board will attend the Regional School Unit 10 informational budget meeting in Buckfield and then hold its regular board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Sumner Town Hall.

Buckfield Rescue Chief Lisa Buck and a selectman from West Paris will be invited to discuss ambulance service for Sumner.